Chapter 7 - The Gate Collapses
At exactly 9:55 AM, my phone buzzed on my desk.
It was an alert from The Meridian gate security app: Vehicle registration attempt - Moving Truck (License Plate: XYZ-8824) attempting entry for Unit 1204.
I watched the live camera feed. On my monitor, a massive commercial moving truck appeared on the outer security perimeter gate of the apartment complex. Chloe and Flynn were sitting in the front of a trailing SUV, Flynn wearing an expensive puffer jacket and looking remarkably pleased with himself, while Chloe jabbed frantically at her phone.
The security barrier remained down. A uniformed guard stepped out of the gatehouse booth, walking deliberately toward the driver’s window of the moving truck.
Through the audio feed connected to the gate camera, I heard the conversation crystal clear.
“Morning! We’re here for Unit 1204, moving in today,” Flynn called out cheerfully, rolling down his window. “Here’s our booking confirmation.”
The guard glanced at the paperwork, then shook his head. “Sir, this paperwork lists a secondary family authorization form, but our system registry shows an active security restriction on Unit 1204. No third-party movers or secondary occupants are permitted entry without primary owner biometric clearance.”
Chloe leaned across the console, her expression instantly twisting into an indignant scowl. “Excuse me? Do you know who we are? We’re family! Our parents own—well, our sister owns the apartment, and she gave us full permission. Call her right now, or let us through. We have a schedule to keep!”
“Ma'am, I cannot let this truck through the gate,” the guard repeated, his voice monotone and completely unfazed. “The primary owner, Ms. Jessi Vance, has placed a strict security hold on the unit. No entry is authorized.”
May you like
“This is ridiculous!” Flynn slammed his hand against the steering wheel. “Call management! Call the property director! This is a bureaucratic glitch!”
That was when the first phone call came in.
